| Dunnottar Castle has the most impressive | | | | keeping. John Keith, youngest son of the |
| location of any castle in Scotland. | | | | Earl, became responsible for these items as |
| Surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs , | | | | Cromwell's English neared the rock. They were |
| the castle was virtually impregnable . It is | | | | smuggled out of the castle hidden in the |
| 2 miles south of Stonehaven and about 15 | | | | skirts of a female visitor to the castrle ans |
| miles from Aberdeen on the east coast of | | | | hiden under the bed of a local minister . In |
| Scotland . The tower house was built at the | | | | May of 1652, Dunnottar, under siege, remained |
| end of the 14th century by Sir William Keith | | | | the last of Scotland's strongholds still |
| , Great Marischal of Scotland. Other | | | | flying the flag. John Keith was generouslyy |
| buildings were added later on by the fifth | | | | rewarded by King Charles .Dunnottar was also |
| Earl Marischal, including a retainers' | | | | notorious from its use as a state prison. In |
| barracks, a chapel, priest's house , stables | | | | 1685 it housed 167 men and women kept in a |
| and a graveyard . William Wallace captured | | | | dark cellar. located under the Earl's |
| the castle during the Wars of Independence. | | | | bedrooms, was later called the "Whig's |
| English troops occupied a stockade on the | | | | Vault". A memorial to the dead (later erected |
| rock in 1297, but it was captured by William | | | | in the courtyard) is . Other prisoners |
| Wallace, who burned the church and the | | | | included a James Keith who escaped (in 1629). |
| English garrison inside. Later on , at the | | | | Accused Jacobites from Aberdeen of the late |
| start of the 14th century , English soldiers | | | | 1600's, such as George Liddel, professor of |
| recaptured the rock which was burned in 1336. | | | | Mathematics from Marischal College, were |
| David II then gave the rock to William, Earl | | | | brought to Dunnottar's dungeons. It all ended |
| of Sutherland, so he could build a | | | | after the Stewart failure in 1716. The York |
| castle.Dunnottar came into the possession of | | | | Buildings Company bought the castle and |
| Sir William Keith-Marischal at the end of the | | | | stripped it , and sold its roofs, floors and |
| 14th century. He soon began construction of a | | | | everything of value inside it . The 9th Earl |
| fortalice , the keep and other early | | | | Marischal regained possession of the castle , |
| structures that still exist. William was | | | | he never visited it or made any attempt to |
| excommunicated by the Bishop of St. Andrews | | | | rebuild it .In 1766 Alexander Keith bought it |
| for building a castle on "sacred soil", and | | | | but did nothing with the buildings. In 1925 |
| later reinstated for a price. Over the years | | | | some restoration was arranged by Lady |
| Dunnottar became a major Scottish stronghold. | | | | Cowdray. The castle is is a ruin , albeit a |
| King James IV was lavishly entertained there | | | | spectacular one.Article by writer and |
| in 1504. Queen Mary visited after the battle | | | | photographer David Rankin. 10 years |
| of Corrichie in 1562, and again in 1564. | | | | experience writing and photographing |
| James VI stayed at the castle on several | | | | Scotland. David's website features 10 |
| occasions, and held a Privy Council there. | | | | pictures of Dunnottar Castle and 20 other |
| King Charles II stayed at Dunnottar several | | | | Scottish castles. David supplies stock |
| times, during wars with England, and | | | | photography in digital format and prints of |
| deposited the regalia of Scotland for safe | | | | Scottish castles and landscapes. |